Reading Materials

Welcome to Yale—where the ghosts are real, the secret societies are dangerous, and the dark magic is darker than your coffee. In this episode, Corrie and Lucia sink their teeth into  Ninth House  by Leigh Bardugo, a gritty dark academia novel full of mystery, power, and one seriously badass protagonist: Galaxy “Alex” Stern. Join us as we talk privilege, pain, and plot twists we never saw coming. E...

Season 3 kicks off with  The Vanishing Half  by Brit Bennett—a moving, multi-generational story of identity, sisterhood, and the long shadows of passing. Join Corrie and Lucia as they dive into the novel’s emotional depth, rich characters, and the ripple effects of choices made across time and race. It’s layered, thought-provoking, and a powerful start to the season. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 – In...

In this surprise bonus episode, Corrie and Lucia dive into  The Thursday Murder Club  by Richard Osman—a cozy crime caper with unexpected heart. Tune in as we chat about rating books with science (sort of), the joy of a truly diverse cast, and the surprising depth tucked behind the banter and bodies. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 01:45 - An Introduction to the Author 05:20 - A Discussion of Th...

Mad geniuses, memory-twisting lies, and a protagonist who can’t fake a smile.  We wrap up Season 2 with special guest Jessica, Lucia’s good friend, as we dive into  A Face Like Glass  by Frances Hardinge. Expect thoughts on naive heroes, dystopian strangeness, and uncanny reflections of our real world—all with a healthy dose of giggling. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:30 - An Introduction to...

Found families, magical misfits, and a grumpy man with a clipboard.  In this episode, Corrie and Lucia dive into  The House in the Cerulean Sea  by T.J. Klune. We talk big themes—prejudice, purpose, and parenting—as well as the joyful charm of this unforgettable cast of characters. Warning: gushing ahead. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Life Updates 05:43 - An Introduction to the Book 09...

Seatbelts, smartphones, drug trials—what do they all have in common? They weren’t designed with women in mind. In this episode, Corrie and Lucia dive into  Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men  and explore how missing data shapes our daily lives. Expect personal stories, big stats, and a healthy dose of righteous rage. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Some Life Updates 0...

Slightly messing up the timing of Season 2, here is your end of season bonus episode, a little early! We sit down to talk about 2021, and answer a few more of the listener's questions as a continuation from the Season 1 bonus. Episode Timepoints: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:33 - A look back at 2021 00:04:30 - Goals for 2022 00:07:35 - Our favourite books of the year 00:15:45 - Our least favourit...

In this very special Christmas episode we discuss A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck, and we recommend gifts for book lovers if you stick around to the end! Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Welcome 01:40 - Introduction to the books 01:50 - Discussion of Christmas Day in the Morning 11:03 - Discussion of A Christmas Carol 25:05 - Our Christmas Traditions...

If you could travel back in time… but only until your coffee gets cold—would you?  In this episode, Corrie and Lucia discuss  Before the Coffee Gets Cold  by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, a quiet, quirky novel that brews up big emotions. Expect thoughts on regret, memory, and the strange rules of time travel (all served with a side of Japanese café vibes). Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Life Upd...

Firemen, forbidden books, and a future that feels a little too real.  In this episode, Corrie and Lucia dive into  Fahrenheit 451  by Ray Bradbury to unpack themes of censorship, control, and what happens when society stops thinking critically—and starts burning. Episode Time Points: 00:00 - Intro and life updates 02:43 - Synopsis of Fahrenheit 451 04:10 - An Introduction to Ray Bradbury 05:16 - A...

Magicians, mysteries, and a cursed love story that spans decades.  In this episode, Corrie and Lucia dive into  The Ladies of the Secret Circus  by Constance Sayers, talking time travel, twisted family legacies, and whether the magic hit the mark—or missed the tent entirely. Episode Time Points: 00:00 - Intro 00:20 - Reading Updates 05:35 - Synopsis of The Ladies of the Secret Circus 06:40 - An In...

Victorian London, autopsies, and a bit of tea—what more could you want?  In this episode, Corrie and Lucia dig into  Stalking Jack the Ripper  by Kerri Maniscalco, unpacking its blend of gore and glamour, feminist flair, and that final twist we didn’t see coming. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 Intro 02:39 A Discussion of Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco 01:01:01 Summary 01:02:36 Outro Other...

We’re heading back to sci-fi with Ursula K. Le Guin’s  The Left Hand of Darkness - an interplanetary deep dive into gender, politics, and icy survival.  Join Corrie and Lucia as they navigate the frozen world of Gethen, grapple with culture shock, and discuss what this classic still has to say about identity and connection. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 02:50 - Brief life updates 02:55 - An in...

Season 2 kicks off with  Beach Read  by Emily Henry - because nothing says “new season energy” like enemies-to-lovers, lakeside cottages, and a whole lot of emotional baggage. Join Corrie and Lucia as they unpack what makes this rom-com more than just summer fluff, from grief and writer’s block to banter that actually delivers. Previous episode: Bonus Questions with Corrie and Lucia Episode Timepo...

It's time for a bonus episode! This week we are answering listeners' bookish questions. Books Mentioned in this Episode: Fishes of the Orinoco in the Wild by Ivan Mikolji Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Atonement by Ia...

We wrap up Season 1 with our first-ever guest! Matt joins us to chat about  Convenience Store Woman  by Sayaka Murata—a sharp, surreal look at societal norms, personal identity, and the rhythm of retail life. We discuss quirky characters, Murata’s real-life inspiration, and whether we’ve all felt a little bit like Keiko. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Welcoming Matthew 06:00 A Discussion of...

We’re back in historical fiction territory with  A Death at Fountains Abbey  by Antonia Hodgson. In this episode, we discuss whodunnits, visualising Victorian settings (badly), and whether a good murder mystery can survive murky descriptions. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 Intro 00:35 Life Updates 02:05 An introduction to the author 06:25 A Discussion of A Death at Fountains Abbey 53:40 The book we wil...

This week we dive into  The Book of Lost Things  by John Connolly, a dark, folktale-laced coming-of-age story full of gruesome imagery and haunting twists. We unpack the horror, the heart, and ask: who exactly was this written for? Episode Timepoints: 00:00 Intro 00:35 Quick Life Updates 03:05 A Discussion of The Book of Lost Things 19:50-21:20 TRIGGER WARNING (Pedophilia / Bestiality / Rape) 47:1...

This week, we reflect on  The Beekeeper of Aleppo  by Christy Lefteri—a moving story of displacement, loss, and resilience. We talk about the emotional weight of grief, the symbolism of bees, and what it means to find hope when everything familiar is gone. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Life Updates 01:55 An Introduction to the Author 09:15 A Discussion of The Beekeeper of Aleppo 49:40 The...

In this episode, we hop between Red, Grey, and White London with  A Darker Shade of Magic  by V.E. Schwab. Expect talk of magic systems, iconic coats, snarky heroines, and the universal importance of a good pub. Spoiler: we have opinions. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 Intro 00:40 - Life Updates 03:15 - Revisiting Foundation 04:45 - Corrections 05:50 - A Discussion of A Darker Shade of Magic 16:55-19:1...

We’re blasting off to the far future with  Foundation  by Isaac Asimov—but not without a few bumps in the time-space continuum. In this episode, we talk about the big ideas that made this sci-fi classic so influential, our confusion over the missing plot, and the severe shortage of female characters. Also… where exactly is the science? Episode Time Points: 00:00 - Intro 00:31 - Life Updates 03:19...

Step through the magical doors with us in  The Ten Thousand Doors of January  by Alix E. Harrow. We chat about villains who steal the show, friendships flirting with romance, and whether there’s such a thing as too much description (spoiler: maybe). Episode Time Points: 00:00 Intro 00:25 Our Thoughts on the Normal People TV Adaptation 03:40 A Discussion of The Ten Thousand Doors of January 53:35 T...

In this episode, we ditch our usual fantasy escapes to dive into Sally Rooney’s  Normal People and quickly get hung up on the missing quotation marks and Connell and Marianne’s epic communication fails. Plus, we compare their uni drama to our own awkward college days. Grab your coffee and join us for some real talk and bookish laughs. Episode Timepoints : 00:00 Intro 00:40 An Introduction to the D...

We dive headfirst into the  A Court of Thorns and Roses  series, where fairytale retellings get a dark, steamy twist. From beastly beginnings to battles with inner demons, we unpack how Sarah J. Maas weaves in trauma, recovery, and romance with wingspan-level drama. Warnings: mild swearing; discussion of misogyny / rape / female genital mutilation / difficult pregnancy and labour / depression / su...

We’re kicking off the podcast with a trip to Hogwarts—and down memory lane. In this episode, we revisit the  Harry Potter  series by J.K. Rowling, the magical books that sparked our university friendship. We share our favourite characters (spoiler: it’s not who you think), and chat about why Stephen Fry’s audiobook narration still feels like home. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 02:00 - Personal...